Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar launches welfare projects worth Rs 415 crore

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday launched different projects worth about Rs 415 crore of the backward classes & extremely backward classes welfare department at an event held at ‘Samvad’ hall in the CM secretariat here.
The projects include construction of nine other backward classes (OBC) girls’ residential +2 schools at the cost of Rs 341 crore, construction of nine OBC welfare hostels at the cost of Rs 59 crore and inauguration of three newly-built Jannayak Karpoori Thakur hotel buildings, built at the cost of Rs 13.94 crore.
The CM laid foundation for the first two projects through remote control from the ‘Samvad’ hall and inaugurated the third project – three hostel buildings.
Nitish also released a booklet titled ‘Bihar Mein Vikas Ke Path Par Ati Pichda Varg’.
Speaking on the occasion, Nitish said his government was working hard for overall progress of women along with the members of all castes and religions. “Just months after coming into power in November 2005, we took a historic decision in 2006 to provide 50% reservation to women in the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs). In 2007, we provided similar 50% reservation to women in the urban local bodies,” Nitish said, adding, “PM Narendra Modi who recently arrived in Bihar, also recognised our efforts in the direction of women empowerment. The PM said it was Bihar which first provided 50% quota to women in the PRIs.”
Recalling the process of creation of a separate department for the backward classes and extremely backward classes (BCs and EBCs), Nitish said, “When we came to power, we decided to create a separate department for welfare schemes of the BCs and EBCs. In 2007, when we created this department, its annual budget was only Rs 42.17 crore. Now, it has increased to Rs 2,000 crore,” the CM said.